I have not felt like I was reading a "Spider-Man" book for years until this title hit my hands.

Now I never read the Ultimate version of this character (that is to say I never read this character when he was in the Ultimate Universe, because this IS the Ultimate version of this character ), so I can't say that the title was just as enjoyable at that time or not, but all the things that made Peter a great character is here, yet squared to be even more. This poor kid not only has to deal with High-School and all the stuff that comes with that, but he has racial stuff to deal with as well. Not racial as in 'racist', though I am sure he has had to deal with that as well, but all the things that come from different races ... I mean, he is a child of a mixed relationship (his father is black and his mother Latino) so he has to deal with racial factors of those two races as well as the mix of the two.

It is just a really well done book. Funny, frustrating and poetic at times this is like reading Amazing Spider-Man back in the early 80's for me.

I highly recommend this title. It is not an all fighty-fight type of title, but it is a must read. Period. If you ever loved Spider-Man not because of who he fought, but because of who he was, this is the title for you.

Found a beat up copy of Spidey Masterworks at the library yesterday, flipped through and but put it back. Now, all day today, I can't stop thinking about it. Just got home and decided I wanted it. Of course the library is closed but will try and hit it up tomorrow. Suddenly have an urge to read old Spidey again. Really want to check out issues 101 to 113 for a start. 101 is right when Roy Thomas jumped on, after Stan Lee left the book ... by making Pete have six arms "Here Roy, you deal with this" and you though Bendis left Brubaker in a bind with Daredevil?

Worse case I will go find what Essential those issues are in and snatch that up.

I have a Fathers Day code I may use and get that, finally. Especially, like you implied, if I am going to start reading older Marvel stuff anyway. I mean, $60 is only the cost of 7.5 highly discounted Marvel Essentials ... and MU is in color

Yeah, I may just break down and do that. I really want to read those early issues after Lee left the writing chores to someone else. Love the guy, but never been a fan of his writing, even though he was perfect for what Marvel had to have back then. Hell, he and a couple of talented artists were Marvel back then

It'll make me mad that the Spider-man I want to read isn't going to be Peter Parker. Damn you Slott. YOu know he's almost been writing Spider-man comics for 8+ years?! and all I am is indifferent to disinterested in the totality of that run? That's sad (well sad for me, I guess.

I can see your (and many others) point, hell, you know I am no Slott apologist as I have jumped off and on his Spider-Man more times than I take pain killers, and that's a lot Hell, I once jumped off his Spidey one issue after praising an issue. I can't remember the issue now, haha, shockingly, but yeah, praised an issue and then the next was so damn bad I just had to drop the damn thing. So yeah, I get it.

What I don't get, with his particular current run, is people complaining about all the questions. Asking with bad intent - "How do these clones remember their past?" (and the like) after only one issue of this arc? Since when are comic readers so damn needy of the answers at issue 1? What happened to letting the story play out and then see what was done and judge that?

Look, I was totally befuddled by the response to issue #1 of Clone Conspiracy. And I mean by virtually everyone I know or listen to or watch ... even my boy Dave who likes Slott's stuff gave me a hard time. Bottom line, I thought it was fun. It harkened back to an older time and I guess people see that as dated? I don't know, I just know I had fun reading it and had fun reading the recent Spider-Man #20 as well. Was part of that fun seeing

Doc Oc in his old ass uniform and those stupid glasses

You bet your ass , but what is wrong with that? Is this Brian K Vaughn? No. But I found it entertaining. That is all. And that is what I want.

Now I am not talking to you here, Jimmy, I know you have not read this stuff yet ... and you may not ever read it (Or you may read it later and think "what the hell was Perry thinking? He liked this shit?" ), but even with Slott's history (which yes he has some bad, but he has some real good ones too), I don't understand the attack here (not here, but out there), with this arc.

Sorry for the derailment, but yes, Miles is doing okay for me for now!

I know there are many Hulks out there, Bat people, Super people, even Captain people, but man, Spider-man (for me) is so singular that seeing anyone else out there as him waters him down in such a way that I don't like it.

But, good characterization and decent writing help to wear down that thinking. Off to issue 2!!

IN a randomness factor, reading the THOR thread, then prior comments here, from me too-brings up something that is bugging me (what else is new?)

TOO MANY SPIDER-MANs!!

But wait, let me clarify, to show my true ire.

TOO MANY DAMNED PETER PARKER SPIDER-MANs!!!!

Seriously, there are THREE of them running around!! Peter, Ben Reilly, and Kaine!! They are all out there! They are all fundamentally PETER.

I mean, there was Peter, then Miles became a huge hit, then came SILK who no one gives 2 shits at all about, then SPIDER-GWEN because it's kitschy or whatever, brought Spider-man 2099 from the future cuz he looks cool and everyont liked him-then made him lame and boring ((and Spider-woman is pre-empted from this as she was never originated within the Spider-man universe of books)), but more PARKERS out there?!! There are 3 people currently calling themselves Spider-man!! At least Ben and Kaine think that's stupid!!

Don't even get me started on that Spider-nexus of worlds bullsh!t. Who the hell thought Peter being married was too far away from the core of the character? Traveling multi-dimensions with other Spider-men as their prime mover/shaker, and being a multi-millionaire tech global genius somehow is normal, after having come back to life while being stored as memories in a drone? Pfft. Being married was small fries.

Silk - BOOM! ExplodedKaine and Ben - Melt away to goo and wash down the sewer drain (god that is a horrible book)Spidey 2099 - Well, he is gond in a onth or so so ... yeah ... bye-byePeter, M.J and the little Spidey - No interest in this fan appeasement book. Give us the real MJ/Peter and I will be there.Spider Gwen - Actually ... I want to read that book. I like the art style and like the fact the creative team has been the same for both volumes. On a different Earth like a lot of Spidey folk, but yeah, I will get to this someday.

So in my view, give me the following (large as it is cast) and just let it ride -

Amazing Peter (not the Stark version)Spectacular Miles (don't need two Peter books again, just write Peter like Peter in the one title)Spider Jessica (really enjoyed that Spider-Woman title and the mother factor)Spidey "not dead" Gwen (Just for the reason I stated above)

Silk - not a bad book or character...had some nice interaction with Black Cat but not enough to support a book....goneKaine and Ben - I am a fan of Kaine and feel he makes a good anti-peter/dark spider...let him embrase "the Other" and all its varying power to help separate him from being just another peter. Keep him on the dark/mystic side, fighting with/against morbius and other dark corner character. or maybe give him the symbiot on top...we get a new Venom and the symbiot gets a PP he can bond with which is all it ever wanted in the first place. Ben can go back to goo or just keep him as the new jackel...i'd be ok with that but make him full on evil Spidey 2099 - always enjoyed but he didnt work in modern times...i prefer him in 2099Peter, M.J and the little Spidey - No interest...read the mini...they might have had me if the kid was May...no interest in Ana Spider Gwen - its a fun/quirky book but keep it separate, no more dimension hoping, build her world/characters in their own way as the prime folks are all there but not like our versions...could be fun to continue but not mandatory reading

You are the first I hear say that, but I am glad someone is actually digging it. I have never tried it, honestly never desired to, so I can't speak of it other than to say I just can't read it to see if I would like it or not when I have so many other comics on my list that I want to read first/more